R.I.P. Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse

Rolling Stone is reporting that Mark Linkous, the chief force behind the band Sparklehorse, has committed suicide. A statement from Linkous' family reads: “It is with great sadness that we share the news that our dear friend and family member, Mark Linkous, took his own life today. We are thankful for his time with us and will hold him forever in our hearts. May his journey be peaceful, happy and free. There’s a heaven and there’s a star for you.”

Linkous' lush, surreal indie-folk never found a huge audience, but he seemed to be on a creative roll: Sparklehorse's last album, 2006's Dreamt For Light Years In The Belly Of A Mountain, marked a creative peak. It was made with the help of Danger Mouse, who Linkous also worked with on the Dark Night Of The Soul project (which, coincidentally, is finally going to see a proper release after legal troubles). Sparklehorse was also nearly finished with a new disc, recorded at least partially at Electrical Audio in Chicago.

Fans will no doubt remember Linkous' harrowing brush with death in 1996, when he overdosed on Valium and anti-depressants. Here's a Guy Maddin-directed clip for "It's A Wonderful Life." RIP.